Marine sector officials and experts from South Korea and Indonesia gathered in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss ways to beef up cooperation in the marine and fisheries sectors, as well as joint efforts to deal with the oceans waste problems.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said about 50 working-level officials and experts will explore ways to step up collaboration in the marine energy and tourism industries, and formulate details on a joint marine science research center that can handle various projects.
They will also come up with ways to work together to tackle the marine pollution problem in Indonesia, which is the world's second-largest contributor to plastic littering the oceans after China.
The meeting is the second of its kind after the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding on marine cooperation in 2016.
South Korea is seeking ways to expand economic ties with Southeast Asia under President Moon Jae-in's "New Southern Policy," as part of efforts to curb its reliance on traditional trading partners like China and the United States. (Yonhap)